Obstetrical nursing: discovering advantages and difficulties faced by specialists in this area

DOI: 10.15343/0104-7809.200832.4.7

Abstract

This is a descriptive-exploratory field research with a quantitative approach developed with 33 obstetric nurses who work in
health and teaching institutions, public and private, located in Sao Paulo State. The study aimed to identify advantages and difficulties
faced by obstetric nurse in their different work areas. Results showed that they most nurses graduated more than 5 years ago and work
in Obstetrics for more than 7 years now; 39.4% work in public institutions and 21.2% in both public and private institutions. As for
childbirth assistance, they carry out 54.5% of them, and 56% of them carries out from 1 to 10 per week childbirths. It was also noticed
that most obstetricians (79%) have no difficulties in their work as a whole and they report advantages such as the possibility of educating
pregnant women and recent mothers, broad work opportunities, team work and the legal support provided by the specialization. Only
six (18%) said to have work difficulties, and those pointed out the lack of technical ability. 33.4% spoke about the lack of autonomy
and preconceptions by the medical team. The research allowed a reflection on the activities and contentment of obstetric nurses, who,
even with some difficulties in their work, feel happy and believes that the advantages surpass by far the obstacles found in the area.